I knew Boy's Town must be in the offing for R1 when Warners announced an October Spencer Tracy box set for R2 with Boy's Town/The Old Man & The Sea/Father of The Bride.

Now come on Warners, where are Northwest Passage, A Guy Named Joe and Captains Courageous; pretty please (with sugar on). (Well, the answer is in a box set right alongside Boy's Town right after I buy it )

I'm looking forward to all those titles, particularly The Nun's Story.

So many films, so little time...Film Journal BlogLt. Col. Thursday: Beaufort; no preliminary nonsense with him, no ceremonial phrasing. Straight from the shoulder as I tell you, do you hear me? They're recalcitrant swine and they must feel it...

By Thomas K. Arnold
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - It's Christmas in July. Warner Home Video is jumping the gun on the holidays by announcing the November 8 DVD release of five classic holiday movies, all of them new to DVD.

The titles -- "Boys Town," "A Christmas Carol," "Christmas in Connecticut," "The Nun's Story" and "The Shoes of the Fisherman" -- come with an assortment of special features, including vintage shorts, featurettes, period newsreels and cartoons.

"Boys Town" (1938), which won Spencer Tracy a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Father Flanagan, comes with the 1941 sequel "Men of Boys Town," a 1939 newsreel, the vintage short "The City of Little Men" and a promotional featurette on the real-life Boys Town organization.

THE NUN'S STORY is a christmas film??? That's a rather unconventional idea to put it mildly, it's not some saccharine trash like BOYS TOWN or other christmas films (I know I'm quite nasty again, but christmas films should be only watched on chistmas, the rest of the year they are quite embarassing).

Anyway it's a Zinnemann masterpiece, maybe his best one besides THE SUNDOWNERS and HIGH NOON and probably Hepburn's best role.

It's not THAT clear whether this is a Box Set or not but if indeed it is -

I see, it's another "weirdly" compiled Box Set from Warners...

Although one should be glad that these are coming out at all - I've watched all of them except for MEN OF BOYS TOWN (1941) and CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945) - I strongly believe Warners should really think harder about which movies fall under any particular header!

The choice of films within the "Controversial Classics" Box Set - which I've just gotten hold of myself, by the way - was already quite controversial in itself over here but then they included CLASH BY NIGHT (1952) into their "Film Noir Vol. 2" Box Set over many more deserving and appropriate candidates.

I don't know but, out of all 6 feature films included in this particular Box Set, the only two which I immediately connect with the Christmas season are the ones which have that very word in their title; perhaps, it's because the other 4 deal with men and women of the Church...

I guess it's no use saying that I would have preferred it had they included the 2-Disc Sets of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944) and A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) - both of which I've yet to purchase!

Anyway, as I said, I'm glad that THE NUN'S STORY (1959; a masterfully acted and directed film) and THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN (1968; an underrated, intimate and intelligent epic) are finally getting released on DVD - although, again, I'd have liked more supplements on both these titles!

WB’s decision to NOT include A Christmas Story is the right one. Let’s face it; most fans of the film would probably already have the excellent two-disc version that’s been available for some time. Including existing titles in newly released boxed sets - forcing double dips - is something I vehemently oppose. I don’t have a problem with any of the titles included in their boxed sets.

I'll certainly grab the "Warner Bros. Holiday Collection" gift set quickly. I just never got into "THE NUN'S STORY" or "THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN" (although a great movie just never been an Anthony Quinn fan). But love the other three movies. Watched them each many times.

I'm really happy with the announcement of this box set - I think it's a great selection, and I'm glad that it's made up of all-new releases (no double dips). This is by no means a definitive Christmas set, which was what I expected when I read the title.

What I'd really like for Christmas is a commentary or retrospective featurette with Mickey Rooney on "Boys Town," but maybe that's asking for too much. Has he done any DVD special features? In any case, I'm not complaining - just hoping...

I don't think George would inflict that level of pain on his buying public Great actor, but modest and focused he ain't. (In all seriousness, I have great respect for Mr. Rooney's accomplishments.)

I do hope WB is able to secure his participation for the presumed eventual release of his films with Judy Garland and the Andy Hardy series. The Mick is 84 and probably doesn't have that many more years where he could be a viable participant.